Diolog E-News: How to Build Diverse Communities, Lord of the Streets Luncheon and More News

Episcopalians Learn to Build Diversity

Texas Episcopalians gathered at the Building Diverse Communities Workshop last weekend to listen to the Rev. Eric Law of the Kaleidoscope Institute. Click above to learn more and watch video interviews with Law.

Bishop Suffragan Election Online Registration Ends May 18
The Election of a Bishop Suffragan at Christ Church Cathedral will take place June 2. Click here to register. Click here to learn more about the nominees and event. There will also be a walkabout with the nominees at Camp Allen this weekend on Saturday, May 12. The event will start with morning prayer at 9:15 a.m. Click here to register for the walkabout.

20th Anniversary Choir Camp Invites Kids and Alumni
Diocesan Choir Camp will be from July 8-14 in Brenham. This year’s conductor will be Courtney Daniell-Knapp of Palmer Church, Houston. Join us as we return to Brenham for beautiful music, housing at Blinn College, and Blue Bell ice cream. Choir Camp Alumni are also invited to join us at the end of the week for anniversary activities! Click here to learn more and register.

You're Invited to Newcomer Ministry Training
Inviting, welcoming and connecting persons into our congregations are vital steps toward building healthy and vibrant churches, and the Newcomer Ministry Project is one of the most important diocesan initiatives we have for this critical work. Training for clergy, staff, and laity who are significantly involved in newcomer ministry is being offered twice this month: Monday, May 14, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Diocesan Center in Houston or Monday, May 21, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Austin Diocesan Office at Seminary of the Southwest. RSVP to Mary Parmer at or 512.439.0320.

Journal Volume II Now Online
Volume II of the Journal from the 163rd Council of the Diocese of Texas is now available online. Click here to or download it.

Starry Nights and Campfire Lights in Austin on May 10
Help Camp Allen raise scholarship funds for Camp Allen summer campers and Discovery students. This gala will feature a live auction, Tex-Mex dinner, live music and a presentation honoring three stars: The Rev. Robby Vickery, Carrielu Christensen and George McGonigle. Click here to learn more.

Join the ECVA at the Artisan's Market, May 12 at Palmer, Houston
Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church will be hosting an Artisan's Market on Saturday May 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be all types of selections to chose from including fiber art, original paintings, jewlery, homemade greeting cards, and wooden crosses. Click here to learn more.

Strategic Mission Grant Applications Available
Applications are now available for the Strategic Mission Grant Program. The focus of the grants is the growth of the Church within the Diocese of Texas. This grant is not available for church-sponsored outreach programs or capital projects. Some key changes have been made to the program. To learn about these changes and other important information please refer to the guidelines in the application package. The deadline for submittal of the grant application is July 31, 2012. If you have any questions, please contact David Fisher, Director of Foundations at 713.520.6444 or .

EDOT Gallery Opens New Exhbition with Caroline Ratliff
Ascension, Houston, parishioner Caroline Ratliff's series "I look to the Hills" is on display at the Diocesan Center from now through June 29. Click here to see an invitation to the artist's reception on Thursday, May 17 from 5-7 p.m.

Austin Convocation Hosts Community Hymn Festival on May 20
Hymn Fest at St. Matthew’s, Austin, will begin at 6 p.m. This celebration of word and song will feature Thomas Pavlechko, Cantor/Composer-in-Residence at St. Martin’s Lutheran, Austin. The audience will be invited to sing hymns in festive arrangements and will be led by a massed choir of choristers from Austin churches. Learn more here.

Join St. Stephen's, Houston, for a Free Classical Guitar Concert, May 26
Juan Carlos Aguilar and Bruce Brogdon will be in concert at the Havens Center, 1827 West Alabama, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on May 26. Come for an evening of classical guitar, tapas, and wine. Click here for more details.

Reminder to Churches about Whitsunday
Please remember that Canon 14.2 provides that the congregations of the Diocese are to take up a collection for the Episcopal Endowment Fund on Whitsunday. (Whitsunday is Pentecost Sunday and falls on May 27.) Remittances from this collection may be forwarded to the Church Corporation, Attn: Nancy Lennard at the Diocesan Center. The funds will be added to the Episcopal Endowment Fund to support the Episcopate and the names of participating churches published in the Journal.

CANCELLED: Bishop's Family Music Festival
The Bishop's Family Music Festival has been cancelled. If you registered, but have not yet heard from Camp Allen about cancellation, you can contact them at 936.825.7175.

Icon Painting Classes to be Held June 2-23
Iconographer Vivian Karayiannis will offer summer classes for beginners. Each participant will create an icon using the traditional Byzantine technique of egg-tempera and 23K gold leaf. Students will practice the oil gilding technique. Due to small space, the class will have maximum 5 students. When: Thursdays 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Click here to download a flyer and registration form.

Notice to Clergy:
Deacon Glennda Hardin was injured last Sunday when her alb was caught in the machinery of a generator in a closet. Please make sure any machinery is covered in your church.

Need a Job?
The Diocese of Texas' employment page has several new open positions including our search for a new outreach coordinator (now called director of common mission).